Saying prosecutors withheld crucial evidence, a judge in Delaware this afternoon dismissed all charges against an East Orange man accused of killing a 17-year-old woman and wounding another teen in a shooting at Delaware State University two years ago.

Loyer Braden, a graduate of Immaculate Conception High School in Montclair, was an 18-year-old freshman at the Dover, Del., university when police charged him with second-degree murder and other counts after the Sept. 21, 2007, shooting.

Shalita Middleton, a student from Washington D.C., later died of her injuries. Nathaniel Pugh, also 17 and from Washington, was shot in the ankle. A third student was not injured.

Braden's lawyer, James Liguori, said Superior Court Judge William Witham Jr. granted his request to dismiss the case because prosecutors failed to disclose that a witness walking with Middleton that day told investigators Braden was not the gunman. Liguori said he learned of the witness only last month, more than a year-and-a-half after the shooting.

"We had all along been asking them for everything they had," said Liguori, adding the judge made the right decision.

"The judge was not happy .¤.¤. but to ensure the integrity of the criminal justice system, we all have to do what is fair," the lawyer said.

Family members rejoiced after learning about the judge's decision.

Sycarr Braden, 31, Loyer's Braden's brother, let out a whoop outside the family's East Orange home when a relative broke the news yesterday evening. The older sibling was then quickly overcome with emotion, his eyes filling with tears.

"Oh my God," he said. "Thank God. It's been a rough two years. ... There's so much we've been through. All these years, and all this time, it's finally over."

The family's pastor, the Rev. H. Grady James III of First Bethel Baptist Church in Newark, called the judge's decision "an affirmation of the Unites States Constitution."

"I think we can all be proud on this day to be Americans," James said. "It's not like this in every country. Some places, you're just guilty until proven innocent."

He called Braden, now 20, a man of faith who "remained steadfast in his belief that he would ultimately be vindicated."

Braden, who has been out on bail since December 2007, was not present in the courtroom when the judge granted Liguori's motion. Braden learned of the decision late this afternoon as he and his mother headed to Delaware from New Jersey for what they thought would be the start of jury selection in the case, James said.

Jason Miller, a spokesman for the state Department of Justice, said there is a possibility prosecutors will appeal the judge's decision but declined further comment.

Braden was charged three days after the shooting, when authorities learned he'd been involved in a confrontation with another man at a campus cafe. Middleton was among those who tried to defuse the altercation. The shooting occurred a short time later, as Middleton and her friends walked across campus.

Liguori said the witness, in a videotaped statement, told police after Braden's arrest the shooting was carried out by two men with dreadlocks and white T-shirts.

"Our guy doesn't have dreadlocks," Liguori said.

With the judge's ruling, he said, Braden can now "get on with his life," a hope also expressed by James, the family pastor.

Braden, who was dismissed from Delaware State, has been living with his parents and other relatives in East Orange and working with the Newark church's Excellence Without Exception Foundation, a group that seeks to foster achievement among boys and young teens.

"He has been an example of perseverance under the most difficult of circumstances," James said. "I've never heard that man curse about his situation. I've never heard him condemn the attorney general in Delaware. He has not expressed any vitriolic remarks about his situation. I just thank God he's getting his life back."

James said Braden hopes to return to college and that he has expressed aspirations to be a lawyer.